Proverbs 5:1-14
Q.1. Why did Solomon urge his son to exercise wisdom in his choices? What makes discretion crucial when resisting adultery? How was the adulteress described? – (Prov.5:1-6)
Solomon knew well the deficiencies of human relationships and consuming passion – he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kgs.11:3). However, after all his excesses, he warned his sons to avoid the adulteress. He particularly warned his son to exercise discretion in his words and actions toward the opposite sex. Wisdom will help you to – … ‘observe discretion in your conduct and guide your lips to preserve knowledge’ (Prov.5:2). Paul warned us not to touch a woman inappropriately, and to avoid suggestive talk and course jesting (c.f. 1 Cor.7:1; Eph.5:3-5). These are often a prelude to immoral behaviour. Solomon then detailed the characteristics, and the final end of the adulteress – 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; 4 But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol (Prov.5:3-5). We need to set a guard long before we get trapped and be prepared to be maligned rather than to offend God, as was Joseph of old (c.f. Gen.39:7-12).
Q.2. What advice did Solomon give to help resist an adulteress? How did Solomon minimise the benefits and maximise the costs of adultery? – (Prov.5:7-14)
Solomon gave some helpful advice. Do not go to places where people pressure you to compromise your standards – and don’t fool yourself into thinking you are strong enough to resist temptation – Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house (Prov.5:8). He then outlined the costs of committing adultery – 9 You will give your vigour to others and your years to the cruel one; 10 Strangers will be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien; 11 You will groan at your final end, when your flesh and your body are consumed (Prov.5:9-11). What a price to pay for indulging our own lusts. We will rue the day, and have to admit – 12 … How I hated instruction! My heart spurned reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, nor incline my ear to my instructors! 14 I was almost in utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation (Prov.5:12-14). In the end we will regret our emptiness and wish we had listened to the wise advice of our teachers.